Pneumatic agitator and cleaner.



A. W. MILLS. PNEUMATIG AGITATOB AND CLEANER.

Patented NOV. 1l, 1913.

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ALBERT W. MILLS, F WEST ORANGE, lNETTVJ'IEBSIZIY. IPN'EU'MA'LICv AGITATQR AND CLEANER.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBERT WV. Lilus, a citizen of the United States, residing at est Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im matic Agitators and leaners, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an eiiective pneumatic agitator and cleaner, operative by alternate blowin and suction, to dislodge and agitate am? to suck up and convey away small scraps of paper and other debris lodged in confined spaces, such as those in monotype machines for which no eicient mode of cleaning was known prior to my present invent-ion, becausepthe currents induced by suction apparatus do not agitato the air and debris lodged in the pockets and corners, and move the debris about and pack it into inaccessiblecorners. I have found the most effective apparatus for such purposes to be one like my present invention, which may be generally described as a manually-controlled blowing and suction-inducing agitator and cleaner, comprising a bent` pipe having one end formed into an oblong nozzle, a manually-operated valve at the other end controlling discharge ports in connection with a dirt-bag or o-ther debris-disposal means and an intermediate ejector discharging toward the valve and connected with a source of compressed air. When the valve is closed the only outlet for air supplied by the ejector of the tube is through it-s nozzle and the tool is a blower agitator. When the valve is opened the air from the ejector, including that induced from the nozzle is discharged into the dust bag, the air being allowed to escape and the debris retained.

In the accompanying drawings, showing one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a section through the device, certain parts 45 .being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve adjusting means; and, Fig. 4 is a partial projection from Fig. 1 of the nozzle end of the device.

My preferred apparatus for the above described uses comprisesa bent tube 6, one limb 7, of which terminates in an oblong nozzle 8,-which is most Vconveniently usable if disposed, as illustrated, with its long axis 55 substantially in the same plane with the tube 6, while its long limb has an open end and Specication oflLetters Patent. Application led October 2,' ,1912. Serial No. 723,470.

rovements in- Pneu'- mere blowers onlyl vdirected toward the valve 17.

vsecured the mouth of a l pipe 12.

Patented Nov. 1'1, 1913.

a port, 1.9, communicating with a dirt-bag or d ebr1s-d1sposal means 23, and an opposite circumferential slot 24;

able tubular valve 17 fitting into, by its Vopen inner end communicating with, and

by 1ts head 16 closing the open end of, the tube 6 and provided with a discharge port 18 adapted to be rotated with said valve into and out of register with the port 19 in the tube 6, and a valve stem 25, by which said valve can be rotated and is iixedagainst axlal motion, said stem 25 being illustrated as engaging a tap ed hole 26 in the valve eX- tending through t e slot 24 and terminating in a suitable head; and a compressed air pipe 12 having, adjacent to the valve 15, a hose nipple or other convenient means for attaching a compressed air pipe, and thence extending tofand making a return bend 9 beyond, and a tight joint 10 with, the tube 6 and extending in the same to an ejector 11 he air pipe 12 is secured to thetube 6 by straps 13,14, or other suitable means.

.Enveloping the port 19 in the tube 6 and united therewith, I provide a threaded union 20; and a corresponding nut 21 is provided that has a conical portion 22, to which is suitable receptacle, such. as a bag 23 of fabric that will serve to confine the dust but permit escape of air. The nut 2l will serve to detachably secure the bag to the ring 20.

The operation of my agitator and cleaner follows :-Compressed air is piped to the air The operator grasps the apparatus by the tube 6 and pipe 12 as a handle, inserts the nozzle 8 into t-he place to be cleaned, and rapidly manipulates the valvestem 25 to alternately register and unregister the valve port 18 and tube port 19. When said ports are sepa-rated, the nozzle 8 is theonly outlet for the air supplied through the ejector 11 and the apparatus acts as an agitator and the blast from said nozzle loosens, detachee and sets in motion the debris it is desired to remove; and instantly reversing the valve 17 and bringing the ports 18 and 19 into register, they become the air outlet because the air discharge from the nozzle is directed toward them; and said discharge draws along with it the air in the tube limb 7 and nozzle 8, causes suction, and draws into `the nozzle the debris previously loosened and agitated.

It will be seen that the entire device is usual rubber comparatively small and light, and can be readily grasped by the hand, being connected With a source of Huid pressure by the hose and a small bag can be employed so that the device will not occupy very much space, and can be simply grasped in one hand andthe nozzle or inlet end 8 inserted in any desired place for sucking in the dust and material desired to be removed; and the ,contracted nozzle, being parallel with the plane of the tubes, can be inserted into small spaces. My device is especially designed for use as a dirt-agitator and cleaner with machines known as the monotype, and similar apparatus.

A Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A pneumatic agitator and cleaner comprising debris-disposal means, a tube having an open end and a port in said tube adjacent toits opposite end and communicating with said dispo-sal means, a rotatable tubular valve at said opposite end fitting in, and communicating with, said tube by one open end, a head in said valve closing its outer end, a port being formed in said valve adapted by rotation thereof to be registered with and separated from the port in said tube, and an air ejector in said tube adapted to discharge toward said valve and to be connected with a compressed air supply.

2. A pneumatic agitator and cleaner comprising debris-disposal means, a tube having an open end and a port in said tube adjacent to its opposite end and communicating with said disposal means, a rotatable tubular valve at said opposite end and litting in, and communicating with, said tube by one open end, a head in said valve closing its outer end, a port being formed in said valve adapted by rotation thereof tobe registered with and separated from the port in said tube, a compressed air pipe attached to said tube, a hose nipple on said pipe, an air ejector connected therewith located Within said tube and adapted to discharge toward said valve, a threaded union enveloping the discharge port in said tube for attaching said disposal means, and, comprised in the latter, a union nut and dirt bag.

3. A pneumatic agitator and cleaner comprising debris-disposal mea-ns, a tube having an open end and a port in said tube adjacent to its opposite end and communicating with said disposal means, a circumferential slo-t being formed in said tube, a rotatable tubular valve at said opposite end fitting in, and communicatingwith, said tube by one open end, a head in said valve closing its outer end, a valve-stem extending through said slot, a port being Jformed in said valve adapted by rotation thereof to be registered with and separated from the port in said tube, and an air ejector insaid tube adapted to discharge toward said valve and to be connected with a compressed air supply.

ALBERT W. MILLS Witnesses:

H. D. PENNEY, Y FRED. J. DOLE. 

